Cigarette package



' G. s. s'rRATToN May 1e, 1939.

y CIGARETTE PACKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1938 EFI! d; i Tb #d u a convenient pack for the j Granma nicnas `oiens.strstton.

,half to Arthur 0. Karla, Oak

Stratton.' maha, Nebr.

mthkmla saam, is, me. serai Ne. issus This invention to a package and more .y particularly it relates to a novel means ofpackl using cigarettes and the like. v

. The usuel cigarette package holding-.twenty a numberof It is,-

- pocket or a handbag Moreover; when some of the cigarettes have been removed, the package soonloses its-shape and 10 the remainder of the cigarettes may easily become bent and damaged and lose their freshness. Furthermore, it is impossible to divide a package of cigarettes and sell a part thereof and still keep the remainder fresh and salabie. 'I'he principal object of the presentinvention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a' pack of two, three or more separable units which .may be. easily divided Each unit .may be separately sold and used. ,o When detached each vunit constitutes a complete package.` AThe cigarettes in each unit, both be-A foreand after separation-arc protected from `damage and are maintained fresh and .salable'. The separate units or several together comprise pocket orhandbag. This advantage willappeal to Darticularly feminine buyers, -who desire apack which takes up a minimum of space.

'I'he invention hasother obiects such as the "n provision lci' al separable'istripl package having a k'by-1a, relativeLv thin moisture-proof. and preferably transparent covering. Means'are also pro-l is discarded and the next group is opened, and

so on.` Moreover, it is 'an object of the invention' n to provide a package which. while answering all the requisites, issimple in conctruction and can be produced at a cost which is not prohibitive to widespreaduse.

Furthermore; the invention provides a packa agewhich can be folded into two or more groups to make vunits of sale of from 'say iive to twentyve cents. y

Still further, the invention provides a con- .venient and practical'package vfor use in Vcigii.-

50 rette vending machines. The present vending .machines require two invention a vending machine can be lused-which requires only one coin. say for a live centunit.

Other objects of the inventionv will become apparent-from ndescriptionl (CLIM-41) Fig. 1. createsan unsightly bulge.

flower ends 2",

one unit of cigarettes is opened at f which that portion of the package.

img. 3. Where the package coins but withthe present 4` particularly bythereference numeral il.

when read in'connection drawings in which:V Pig. La a tive view of one embodiment of the invention.'

with theaccompanying' f Hg. 2 is a cross sectionl on'the line 1 2- oies m. s iss plan view of the package or Figs. 1 and 2 opened.,v f f 1"ig3.4 isa cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 is across section on theline l-l of Fig'. 3.

8 is aplan view'of the blank used in ing the package.

mak- Fig. 7 is a plan view oi! a modified form of Vpackage according to the invention, showing the package open.

Fig. 8 is. a plan view of theblank used in makfing the package illustrated in'lilg.V 7. Pig. -9 is a plan view of a package involving nve units. v

Fig. 10 shows folded.

In the modiiication accordingto Figs.`1 to 6 inclusive, the package is 'comprised of three separable umts 2.' 4,1. In making the package a blank such as shown in Fig. 6V is first cut from relatively stil! paper'v or the like and-the blank is scored along the dot-dash lines. The upper ends 2', I' and t of the .units are folded upwardly and forwardly along the linesa and b, andthe 4"' and 6" are likewise folded along lines c and d. The lateral edges of the ends l", 4 and 6" are folded'upwardly. 'I'he side edges .l and Ill of the sections 2 and 6 are folded inwardly. v Cigarettes iiaredisposed in each unit so that they run transverseiy'of the blank as. shownin is made up of three units, preferablythere are seven cigarettes to the unit since thisv makesfor a neat package'eachunit ofA which containsthe arettes. Of course,v lthe vsame number ofcig- 14". and l" cover a goodlyportion Aof the lower ends oi' the cigarettes. 1

After the cigarettes-have been so positioned, the front of the packageis covered with a layer ot relatively thin material .which may b e a transparent moistureproof material or the like.' 'I'he package as .thus covered is shownv in Figs. 3 and 4, the layer of covering material being indicated in the structure of Fig. p9 when unit may-contain any4 I desired number, of. cigarettes. 'Ihe4 cigarettesv As shown in Fig. 4, the covering material extends from the edge 8 on the left over the units 2, 4 and' 6 to the edge I6 on the right. It is secured to the edges 8 and I6 and also to the portions i4 and I6 of the front of the backing between the units 2, 4 and 6. The covering material also is secured to the ends 2', 4 and 6', and 2", 4" and 6 (see Figs. 3' and `5) but not, of course, to the cigarettes on the units.

The covering material may also extend partially or completely over the back of the backing material so as to enclose the cigarettes and the backing material together. The covering' material in such instance is preferably secured to the back of the backing as well 'as to places on the front of the backing strip already specified.

The covering material and the backing material are then perforated on lines I8 and 26 at the intermediate portions I4 and I6 respectively between the units 2, 4 and 6, so that the units may be separated from one another for separate sale or use.

The covering material I2 may be a cellulose product such as Ceilophane, or

to the backing without the use of an adhesive. Other materials will suggest themselves.

The package as shown open in Fig. 3 is folded together to form the completed package 1 and 2. In` folding, the section or unit 2 is folded over the unit 4 and then vthe nit 6 is folded over both the units 2 and 4. v'l'o render this possible the intermediate space I4 is made the width of two cigarettes or slightly greater while theintermediate space I6 is made the width of three cigarettes or slightly larger.

The package may be made up of any number of separable units. Where, for example, a five unit package is made according to the invention, the space between the rst two units would be the width of two cigarettes; the space between the second and third would be the width of three cigarettes. The space between the third and fourth units should be about the width of one' fourth a cigarette so that the fourth unit can be folded back over the third unit; and the space between the fourth and fifth units would be the space of two cigarettes. Such a ilve unit pack can be made to be sold for twenty-five cents complete; or flve cents a unit.

The completed package disclosed in Fig. 3 may be secured together by securing the edge |6 to the outer side of th'e intermediate space I4 as indicated by 22 in Fig. 2. Other ways of holding the completed package together will suggest themselves. The whole package may be wrapped in a transparent or other covering to insure the freshness of the cigarettes.

The package as' shown in Fig. 1 is sold to the retailer as such who may thenresell the complete package or may open it and separate one or more units and sell them. If the package is sold in completed form, the purchaser may carry it all and separate it a unit at a time as the cigarettes of each unit become depleted. As the cigarettes become depleted and units are de tached, the package becomes progressively smaller and the cigarettes in the remaining units are kept fresh and protected from crumbling or breaking,

The purchaser may desire to carry with him only a comparatively few cigarettes. With the present invention it is not necessary to openvand expose all the cigarettes in the package since may be a thinv film of deodorized rubber which may be secured of Figs.

each unit forms a complete package inv and of itself.'

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is generally similar to that describedabove. The blank is shown in Fig. 8 as consisting of three units |62, |64, |66. The units are separated by spaces ||4 and ||6. The embodiment differs from that of Figs. 1 to 6 in that separate end pieces'I52, |64, |56 and |52', |54 and |56' are provided. It is not essentiaL'however, that the lower ends |52', |54' and |66 be separated from the backing. They may be similar to the upper ends 2', 4' and 6' of the embodiment of Figs. l to 6.

After the cigarettes are placed on the blank in the units the separate end pieces are placed as shown in Fig. 7 and strings or threads or the like |62, |64, |66 are placed over the up- I per ends of the cigarettes. A transparent or other covering I|2 similar to, that of the rst embodiment is then secured in place from `the edge |68 to the edge ||6. It is secured at the intermediate spaces |I4 and |I'6, and also over the separate ends |52, |54, |56 and |52', |54', |56'. The covering ||2 is wider than the height of the package and is secured to the upper and lower back edges of the backing of the package.

It may, if desired, extend completely over the y back of the backing.

Perforations I|8 and |26, or other means to -facilitate separation of the units, `are provided in the intermediate spaces I|4 and II6. These pass through the covering ||2 as well as the backing formed by the blank. The package is folded up in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and may likewise be covered with transparent material, foil or paper covering to i protect the contents from damage and moisture.

The units may be separated as in the rst embodiment described. The threads |62. |64, and |66 are shearing threads the free ends of which when pulled will shear the covering material between the ends |52, |54,.|56 and the backing and thus open the upper ends of the units so that cigarettes may be removed.

The structure shown in Fig. 9 is comprised of the ilve units, 262, 264, 266, 261 and 269, which are formed from a blank from which upper ends 262', 264', 266', 261' and 269' are folded over in y the manner previously described, as are the lower ends 262", 264", 266", 261" and 266". 'I'he side units 266 and 2|6 correspond to the units 6 and I6 of Figs. 1 to 6. The cigarettes 2| I -are contained in the units which are spaced as follows: The space 2|4, which is between units 262 and 264, has approximately the width of twocigarettes. The space 42I6 between units 264 and 266 is approximately of a width equal to three cigarettes, whereas the space 2|1 between units 'unit .266 overlies the unit 261 in face to face relation as shown in Fig. 10.

It is believed that the advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the objects and 'description given and need not be elaborated.

Obviously, changes may be made in the package without departing from the invention. The embodiments illustrated and described are examples only. The invention is not limited thereto except as indicated in the claims. Having now described -the invention. what I contend is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apac'kage for cigarettes or the like, comprising, a backingstrip of relatively stiff paper, five spaced "groups, disposed thereon with the cigarettesof each group running transversely of the strip, a moisture resistant covering of relatively thin material extending over the front of thestrip andenclosing the cigarettes and secured'to the edges of the strip and to the intermediate spaces between the groups of cigarettes,

. means running transversely of the strip at the intermediate spaces for facilitating a severance of the strip into separate units each of which fornsa completed package of a group of cigarettes, the intermediate spaceibetween the ilrst and second group being substantially equal to the thickness of two cigarettes, the intermediate i space between the second and third group being substantially equal to the thickness of three cigarettes, the space between the third and fourth groups being substantially equal to one-.fourth oi' the thickness of a cigarette, and the space between the fourth and ilfth groups beingsubstantially equal to the thickness of two cigarettes, whereby the strip may be folded before separation with the nrst group overlying the second group, the third group overlying the iirst and second groups, the fourth group folding back to back with the third group and the fifth group overlying the fourthgroup face to face.

J 2. A cigarette package for cigarettes or the like comprised -of an elongated, substantially rectangular backing strip of relatively stiff, moisture resistant paper. groups of cigarettes dis- .40 posed on said backing strip with the cigarettes of the groups running transversely lof the back-- ing strip, a covering strip lof relatively thin, tough, flexible, moisture resistant, transparent material extending over the front of the backing strip and enclosing the groups of cigarettes thereon. said covering strip being secured to the edges ofsaid backing strip and the portions of the backing strip intermediate the groups of cigarettes, thereby enclosing each of said groups on all four sides, the portions of said package intermediate the groups being adapted for severance whereby a group of cigarettes may be sep- -grated from the remainder of the package, leaving the remainder of the package intact, the iistance between the groups being suilicient to permit the folding of the package with'one group superimposed on another whereby the cigarettes,

. when the package is folded, are protected against Y 0 crushing by the respective portions of the backing strip immediately therebehind and by the portion which lies intermediate the groups when the package is unfolded. i

3. A cigarette package for cigarettes or the 5 like comprised of an elongated, substantially rectangular backing strip of relatively stiff, moisture resistant paper, groups of cigarettes disposed o'n said backing strip with the cigarettes of the groups running transversely of the backing 10 strip, a covering strip of cellophane or the like` extending over the front of the backing ystrip and enclosing the groups of cigarettes thereon, said covering strip being secured to the edges of said backing strip and the portions of the backing 15 strip intermediate the groups of cigarettes, thereby enclosing each of said groups on all four sides, the said backingl and covering strips being weakened along coinciding lines extending transversely of said strips intermediatethe groups of 20 cigarettes whereby a group of cigarettes may be separated from the remainder of the package, leaving the remainder of the package intact, the

distance between the groups being suiiicient to permit folding of the package with one group 25 superimposed on another whereby the cigarettes, when the package is folded, are protected against crushing by the respective portions of the backing strip immediately therebehind nand by the portions which lie intermediate the groups when 30 the package is unfolded. y 4. A cigarette package for cigarettes or the like comprised of an elongated, substantially rectangular backing strip of relatively stiff, moisture resistant paper, three groups of cigarettes 35 0n said backing strip with the cigarettes ofthe groups running transversely of the backing strip, a covering strip of Ceilophane or the like extending over the front of the backing strip and enclosing the groups of cigarettes o thereon, said covering strip being secured tothe edges of said backing strip and the portions of the backing strip intermediate the groups of cigarettes, thereby enclosing each of said groups on all four sides, the portions of said strips inter- 5 mediate the groups being adapted for severance whereby agroup of cigarettes may be separated from the remainder of the package. leaving the remainder of the package intact. the distance between one pair of adjacent groups being great- .o er than the distance between the other pair of groups to'permit folding of .the package whereby the cigarettes. when the package is folded, are protected against crushing by the respective portions of the backing strip immediately therebehlnd ana-by the portions which ueintermediateu 

